Monitoring Device with Volatile Organic Compounds Sensor and System Using Same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016015278-A1
Application number	US-201514805063-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2015
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Video monitoring device comprising a computing unit, a camera, a communication interface, and a volatile organic compounds sensor configured to measure at least a concentration of organic compounds in a room of interest, said computing unit being configured to record the concentrations of organic compounds reported by the volatile organic compounds sensor, and configured to send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations to a remote entity, such as a smartphone over a wireless link.

First claim

1 . A video monitoring device comprising a computing unit, a camera, a communication interface, and a volatile organic compounds sensor configured to measure at least a concentration of organic compounds in a room of interest, said computing unit being configured to record the concentrations of organic compounds reported by the volatile organic compounds sensor, and configured to send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations to a remote entity, such as a smartphone over a wireless link.

2 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the volatile organic compounds sensor configured to detect multiple organic gases, such as butane, propane, octane, methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, and even aromatic compounds such as benzene, ethylbenzene, and toluene.

3 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the computing unit stores successive organic compound concentration level value in memory, for transmission at regular intervals to the remote entity.

4 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein an alert threshold is provided in the computing unit, which allows to send immediately to the smartphone an alert message, as soon as the VOC concentration level exceeds the predetermined alert threshold.

5 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the VOC sensor is an electrochemical MOS on-chip sensor using oxydation-reduction reactions with gas present in ambient air, whereby a VOC concentration level can be measured.

6 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein the VOC sensor provides an aggregate level of organic compounds which combines all the organic compounds present in the air of the room.

7 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , wherein some vital signs of a baby, such as the heart rate and/or respiratory rate of the baby are evaluated by photoplethysmographic analysis of the captured images, thereby forming a device suitable for monitoring a baby in a room or in a crib.

8 . The video monitoring device according to claim 1 , further comprising a loudspeaker and a microphone, thereby forming two-way audio link, particularly suitable for interacting with a baby in a room or in a crib, remotely from a parent/caretaker using the smartphone.

9 . A video monitoring system comprising a monitoring device according to claim 1 , and a smartphone.

10 . A method to monitor events in a room and an air quality in the room, the method comprising:
measuring a concentration of organic compounds in a room with a volatile organic compounds sensor taking images of at least part of the room, storing the organic compound concentration data in a memory of a computing unit, send images taken by the camera and volatile organic compounds concentrations, from the computing unit to a remote entity such as a smartphone over a wireless link.

11 . The method to according to claim 10 , wherein the transmission to the smartphone occurs at regular intervals.

12 . The method to according to claim 10 , wherein an alert threshold is provided in the computing unit, the method further comprising:
sending quickly to the smartphone an alert message, as soon as the VOC concentration exceeds the predetermined alert threshold.

Assignees

• Campo David
• Carpentier Stéphane
• Dumoulin Amaury
• Buard Nadine
• Carreel Eric
• Withings

Inventors

• Campo David
• Carpentier Stéphane
• Dumoulin Amaury
• Buard Nadine
• Carreel Eric

Classifications

• A61B5/02416 Primary

  using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06V20/52

  Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects (recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69) · CPC title

• G06F2218/10

  by analysing the shape of a waveform, e.g. extracting parameters relating to peaks · CPC title

• G06V10/25

  Determination of region of interest [ROI] or a volume of interest [VOI] · CPC title

• A61B5/0205 Primary

  Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition · CPC title